OUR SECRET AGENT TAKES WHIMSICAL STAKES WITH AUTHORITY
TORONTO, May 8, 2022 – Our Secret Agent channeled her spring fever to capturing the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes on Mother’s Day Sunday at Woodbine.
The Mark Casse trainee relaxed out of the gate, sitting near the middle of the seven-horse field early, before angling to the outside after the opening quarter mile in 22:89. With clear track ahead, the winner of four lifetime races continued to build momentum, teaming up with Artie’s Princess (Reylu Gutierrez) through the half in :45.56, before pulling away at the 5/8 marker to earn the victory for owner Gary Barber and stopping the clock in 1:09.62.
Jockey, Kazushi Kimura, was a little surprised by the smoothness of the five-year-old mare who raced today at six-furlongs, slightly shorter than her preferred distance.
“I was already feeling like today was going be a very tough race. Maybe, I'm more surprised today,” said a smiling Kimura in the winner’s circle interview with Jeff Bratt. “She's best at the [longer] distance, the six furlong and a half. Today, maybe it's too short [of a distance] but, at the beginning she was quite smooth to get the good position and she was just keeping fit [at the end].”
“I was thinking that Luis' (Contreras) horse, Boardroom, and Artie's Princess, for sure were going to show some speed, and Gary's (Boulanger) horse too,” continued Kimura, recapping his version of the race. “But, at the brake, I didn't push her much, just [enough] to see if I could get a position. I didn't feel any pressure from the outside, so it was so easy for her.”
The victory, which earned the winning connections the $90,000 purse, pushed the daughter of Secret Circle and Avalos’ career earnings past the $400,000 threshold.
Race favourite, Boardroom, with Luis Contreras, and Dreaming of Drew (Patrick Husbands) were second and third respectively.
Thoroughbred racing returns to the Toronto oval on Thursday, May 12 with post time slated for 1:10 pm.
Lindsay Bax, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms
